Leading design industry research

Over eight months the Design Commission took evidence from leaders across the public, private and design sectors on where design is already contributing to public services and how more can be done.

This briefing summarises the findings of the first national evaluation of the Design Council’s Designing Demand programme. Independently undertaken, it provides economic impact data for business, government and the design industry.

We are exploring new directions for academic design research and its engagement with business. To maximise the contribution that design can make to the economy and society, Design Council and AHRC believe that a more sophisticated understanding is needed of the use and value of design. Find out more about our scoping study to inform the future direction of design research.

In autumn 2009 the Design Council conducted its second comprehensive survey of the UK design industry.

The survey, published in March 2010, covered 2,200 design businesses including in-house design teams, design consultancies and freelance designers working across communications, digital & multimedia, interior & exhibition, product & industrial, fashion and service design disciplines. Design businesses were asked about the profile and size of their businesses, their clients and the competition they face, their business practices and the education, training and skills of their employees.

Research from 2005 on the design sector's scope and economic significance, how its consultancies, freelances and in-house teams do business, and what education, training and skills its designers have.

Our business research shows the positive impact of design on practically every measure of business performance, including market share, growth, productivity, share price and competitiveness.

Company spending on design is the most comprehensive attempt yet to understand how - and how much - UK companies spend on design. The exploratory survey, conducted by the University of Cambridge and supported by the Design Council, uses an inclusive model of design that categorises spending by purpose rather than by a strict definition of design. This original study demonstrates that design spending can be captured in the creation of products and services; the promotion or communication of offerings, and the development of corporate identity.

Briefing papers on the impact of design on businesses and public services, written by the Design Council research team as well as expert authors.

Launched in June 2006, the Value of Design Factfinder shows the positive impact of design on practically every measure of business performance, including market share, growth, productivity, share price and competitiveness.